Machine fob bending and forming



April 28, 1953 A. M. REDMAN El AL 2,636,537 I MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING METAL ARTICLES File d Sept. 6, 1950 1 Sheets-Sheet 1 i Inn enroRS W)". MM 1 rmaw April 28, 1953 A. M. REDMAN ET AL 2,636,537

MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING METAL-ARTICLES Filed Sept. 6, 195 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 jay. z

In vewr' R s mmn-JW... f/ vm df y ws- M April 28, 1953 A. M. REDMAN 5r AL momma FOR BENDING AND FORMING METAL ARTICLES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 6, 1950 April 28', 1953 Filed Sept. 6. 1950 A. M. REDMAN El AL MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING METAL ARTICLES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. M. REDMAN El AL April 28, 1953 MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 6, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 8, 1953 A. M. REDMAN ETI' AL v 2,636,537

MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 6, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 1/429 aggw MM/$2 April28, 1953 A. M. REDMAN ET AL 2,636,537

MACHINE FOR BENDI'NG AND FORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 6, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Apr. 28, 1 953 MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING METAL ARTICLES Albert Maurice Redman, Croydon, and Arthur Frederick Frost, Linkinhorne, Callington, England, assignors to Redman Tools & Products Limited, Croydon, England, a British company Application September 6, 1950, Serial No. 183,344 In Great Britain December 24, 1948 19 Claims. I

This invention comprises improvements in or relating to methods of shaping metal workpieces.

and to metal working machines therefor, and relates to methods of and machines for bending and shaping metal bars, strips, rods, and like work-pieces.

Heretofore it has been considered very difiicult, and in some cases almost impossible, to bend a flanged work-piece, for example of U section, composed of mild steel or other hard metal to any appreciable degree of curvature, because the reduction in length of that part of the workpiece lying along the inside of the curve when the work-piece is bent and the consequent compression of the metal in this region causes the work-piece to crinkle and distort. Certain of the simpler curved flanged forms can be hot forged in a die press, but as the forms required become more complex and the degree of curvature greater, higher forging pressures are necessary and the number of rejects due to distortion of the work-piece grows until a stage is reached when it is not a practical proposition to produce the forms by ordinary forging methods. This has hitherto imposed a severe limitation upon the designs of, for example, articles such as bumpers or fenders for motor vehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a machine whereby satisfactory curved flanged forms can be produced from straight or slightly curved flanged work-pieces and also from unflanged work-pieces, by cold bending.

According to the present invention a method of shaping a metal workpiece consists in placing the work-piece against a former, pressing a shoe on to the work-piece toward the former by fluidpressure-operated means so that the shoe forces the work-piece to conform to the former at one part of its length, said fluid-pressure-operated means being pivotally mounted to swing about a centre located behind the former surface, and thereafter, while maintaining pressure on the shoe toward the former, applying lateral force to the fluid-pressure-operated means to effect a shifting of the place of application of such pressure progressively along the shoe and so rolling the shoe and former one over the other with the workpiece between them to cause the metal of the workpiece to flow into conformity with the shape of the former.

The resent invention further includes the provision in a metal-working machine of the combination of a curved former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, a shoe capable of rolling upon the workpiece against the former, fluid-pressure-operated means to press the shoe, work-piece, and former together, said fluid-pressure-operated means being provided with a nose to apply the pressure and being movably mounted so that the nose is capable of moving laterally relative to the shoe, and means to effect said relative movement of the nose and shoe to shift the place of application of the pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface while maintaining the fluid pressure.

The shoe presses the work-piece against the former over a narrow area only at any one time, and this narrow area of pressure is caused to travel slowly and progressively over the workpiece so that the metal of the work-piece flows and the work-piece is gradually smoothed or ironed to the shape of the former; the movement of the shoe must be slow enough to allow the cold metal time to flow, and the result is that the finished form does not display any distortion oncrinkles although the flanges of the workpiece show a very slight thickening towards their edges along the inside of the curve. Since the work-piece is pressed to the former progressively, and over only a narrow area at any given instant,

the pressure required is only a fraction of that which would be necessary to perform an equivalent operation in a die-press in which the workpiece .is formed over the whole of its length simultaneously at one stroke of the press ram.

Preferably the fluid-pressure-operated means is mounted on a swinging arm having its centre of movement on the opposite side of the former to the work-piece, which arm is connected to a further fluid pressure operated device for causing form part of the swinging arm.

shoe when desired, at a position offset from the place of application of pressure of the main or first said fluid-pressure-operated means to assist in swinging the shoe angularly at positions where the curvature of the former changes rapidly.

One form of machine in accordance with the chine omitted,

Figure 3 is a part plan of the machine with parts broken away, showing the movablemembers in different relative positions to those-in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a part plan with parts broken away showing the movable members disposed in {a third series of relative positions,

Figure 5 is a plan of superstructure built on the machine table,

Figure 6 is an elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a plan of the shoe table and swing- .ingarm carrying it,

F ure 8 is anelevation of the arm'in section on .theline .8..8 of Figure '7,

Figure Qisaside elevation of partof the swing.- ing arm, and the arm pivotshowing the shoe and associated part-s,

Fi ure 10 is an elevation in section on the line Ill-Abbi Figure 9, and

Figure 11 is an elevation of the clamping means for the work-piece.

The machine has an underfraine ll secured rigidly to the floor and comprising a plurality of rolled .steel sections, and upon'the under frame is a heavyrectangular horizontal plate 12 which forms the main bed of the macl1i ne.- A built-up superstructure I3 is secured upon the bed-plate near one corner thereof, and rolled steel section pillars 14 extend upwardly from the superstructure i3 .and support a headeplate 15 near the top of the machine.

A horizontal plate 1.6 is bolted on the superstructure i3 and projects beyond the superstructure, in a direction generally towards the centre of the -bed-plate [2, so that it overhangs the bed plate at a distance of about 3 inches above it, and a second plate 13 overlies the plate t6 and also overhangs the bed-plate in the same direction but not to such a great extent as the plate Ifiiits overhanging edge 18 heingset back to- Wards the superstructure It with respect to the overhanging edge 19 of the lower plate It, so that there is astep .28 formed atthe limit of the over- .hangcf the two plates. A horizontal former block 2' isbolted along the overhanging edges of the plates 16, ll being cut away to fit over the step -20, and the-outer edge of the block -21, that-is the edge farthest from the plates It, .51, which extends horizontally above the bed plate, is convexly. cuiyedand constitutes .amale former '22 with a profile shaped according to the desired internalcuryature and shape of the motor car bumper it is desired to produce upon the machine.

As illustrated, the former profile is of a length and curvature such as to produce a so-called quarter-bumper, a pairof which are fitted to l the rear of a car, one towards each side. The former profile is of uniform vertical cross section, and has a very gradual curve along its length near one end 23, that is the right hand end as viewed from the convex or front-side of the former, which curve corresponds to. that part of the quarter-bumper which lies along the back of the car, and the former curves round fairly sharply near the opposite or left hand end 24, to correspond to a part of 'the bumper which wraps 4 around the side of the rear wing of the car. The sharp curve of the bumper finishes with an inturned end which is slightly cupped.

A vertical pivot pin 25 is situated upon the concave or inner side of the former profile, being iournalled through the head-plate 15, the plate 15, H, and the bed plate 12, and an arm 25 extending across the bed plate i2 upon the convex side of the former swings above the bed plate about the pivot pin 25 and comprises an upper horizontal strap 27 and a lower strap 28 passing respectively above and below the plates I5, I! and the former block 2! and united at their outer ends by a block 3i and again near their ends by .ablock 2S spaced from said block 36. The lower strap 2.8 of the arm 26 swings just clear of thebed plate, and welded to the arm immediately above the lower strap is a horizontal plate 3!,

Whichiplate swings with the arm and has a width considerably greater than that of the arm, extending equally; upon both sides thereof, andthe plate 31, which constitutes a slewing table about ayard square, is provided with rollers carried beneath it to run over the bed plate asthe arm Qtswings. The table is extended by a plate .33 which is butt Welded along its rear edge, that is to the edge nearest the pivot pin .25, and the pivot pin passes through a journal in the said plate 33. This plate projects laterally beyond the plate 3-1, towards the left hand side as viewed when looking in a direction along the arm 26 towards the former, and has near the extremity of its pro,- jecting part a boss 3d; Secured to the swinging arm immediately above theupperstrap 21 is ahorizc-ntal substantially triangular plate through one corner of which isjournalled the pivot pin 25, and which extends laterally from the left hand side. of the arm to an apex; where it has a boss 3'5 disposed vertically above thebcss 34 of the table 3L 1 The cylinder 13'! of ahydraulicpiston and cylinder unitjis carried horizontally in a cradle'38 con-- stituted by a trussed girder framework secured to the floor and to the corner of the bed plate 12 nearest the superstructure i3 thereon, andth'e cylinder 37 has .a piston rod 3.9 which extends towards and above thebed plate 52 and has its end pivota llyconnected tothe table 3! and the triangular. plate .35 by meanschan eye it on the rodand a pin l! passing through the eye and journalled in the bosses 34, 36'. .At theend opposite the piston rod the cylinder 3'5 isnpivotally anchored at is to a post 42 cemented into the floor, and when themachine is in operation the piston-andcylinder unit,.by pulling -upon the triangular plate 35 and the table 3.! through the piston rod 39, cause the arm 25 to swing about its pivot and traverse the bed plate 52, the slight lateral movement which the traversing cylinder 3'! has to-make while performing this function being allowed for by its pivotal connection'43. Towards its outer end the swinging arm 26 carries a hydraulic piston'and cylinder unit d4, horizontally mounted between and extending beyond the straps 2?, 28 and the piston and cylinder unit has a piston rod 45 extending toward the pivot pin-25 and connected at its inner end to a cross head l6 mounted to slide along the arm'between the straps 2?, 28. The blocks 29, 38 have apertures to receive the piston-and-cylinder unit id. The cross head has a nose 74 directed toward the pivot pin 25, andina recess 13 in the nose is a roller mounted centrally 'of the arm 25' and the cross head to rotate about a vertical axis on a. spindle lil Under the action of the hydraulic upon the former 22 as will now be described.

The shoe 48 is a cast mild steel block about 3 ft. long, approximating in cross section to a square with a side of about 13 inches, and weighing about 1'2 cwts., and it rests horizontally upon the table 3| over which it is free to slide. Rollers may be provided beneath the block to facilitate sliding on the table, but it is found in practice that if the table surface is kept well lubricated rollers are not necessary as, despite its weight, the block will slide very readily on the table without them. The block has a horizontal recess 49 extending along its surface which faces toward the former 22, and three hardened steel inserts or liners 56 are fitted along the sideand bottom faces of the recess to take up wear and are so shaped that when they are in position the vertical cross section of the recess, which is uniform along the whole length of the recess, is such as to correspond to the form of the outer or convex surface of the bumper which it is desired to produce upon the machine, as seen when the bumper is viewed in vertical cross section. The longitudinal centre line of the recess 49 is at the same height as that of the male former profile and the shoe with its longitudinally extending recess constitutes a female former movable with respect to the male former 22, with which it co-operates to shape a work-piece held in place between the former 22 and the shoe;

In addition to the main cylinder 44 for applying pressure to the back of the shoe 48 during the shaping of a work-piece, a further degree of control over the movements of the shoe is obtained by the provision of an auxiliary hydraulic shoe control cylinder 5! disposed upon the left hand of the main cylinder, as viewed in a direction looking toward the former. The auxiliary cylinder 5! is pivoted at one end to a frame 52 which is mounted to slide with the cross head 46 longitudinally of the arm 26 at the left hand side thereof, being secured at one end to the side of the cross head and at its other end to a block 53 sliding on guides 54 along the side of the arm. The cylinder 5i extends from its pivot point upon the frame 52 toward the shoe 48" and has a piston rod 55 which is pivotally connected to a built-up pivot block 56 sliding along a twopart slotted arm 5'! which is integral with a saddle 58 mounted to slide along guide-slots 59 extending longitudinally of the back of the shoe 48. The saddle has upper and lower spacedhorizontal limbs H extending along the'back of 'the shoe 48, which are connected by a bridgefpiece 12 at their left hand ends, where the slotted arm 51 joins them making an angle of somewhat less than a right angle with the limbs and the back of the shoe, and at their opposite ends 15 the limbs ll of the saddle are pivotally connected to the nose of the cross head 46 by the spindle it which is journalled in them, and the roller 4'! carried by the cross head bears upon the back of the shoe between the limbs of the saddle.

A bracket is secured at the edge of the machine bed-plate !2 upon the far side of the arm 26 from the shoe control cylinder 5!, and the bracket has a horizontal flange 51} above the level of the slewing table 3! upon which flange is pivotally mounted a clamp cylinder 62 for clampingfa work-piece to the former 22. The clamp cylinder has a piston rod 62 extending toward the former,

which rod carries a pivotally mounted clamping jaw 63 on a level with the male former profile and the flange 6B.

1 formed. A

other machine working on the same principle as '6 movable towards and away from the former and work-piece thereon, under the control of the clamp cylinder 6!, the clamping edge being recessed so as to fit around the section of the workpiece near one end thereof and hold the workpiece firmly to the former 22 under the action of the pressure exerted by the clamp cylinder, at a position adjacent the end 23 of the former profile. The clamping jaw 63 (see Fig. 11) also has a horizontally projecting pin 16 centrally disposed within its recessed portion to pass through a hole in the work-piece for location in a. hole in the former 22 so that the work-piece when clamped in position is positively held ing jaw 63 is constrained to move substantially in a path normal to the horizontal centre line of the former profile at the position of clamping by means of a parallel linkage 6t pivoted upon It is to be understood that, in the case of the specific machine illustrated and described herein, the work-pieces are not in general fiat before they are put into the machine, having been preformed to a channel section which approximates to the section of, but is not fully reduced to the exact dimensions of the completed quarter bumper. The work-pieces when inserted are nearly straight, having only a slight lengthwise curvature, and the function of the machine described is to bend the work-piece to give it the considerable lengthwise curvature of the finished quarterbumper while finishing the cross section of the bumper which has already been approximately The preforming is carried out in anthat herein described which operates upon plain, straight, channel section work-pieces.

The operation of the machine herein described is as follows:

A preformed work-piece is dipped into a bath of drawing oil and allowed to drain, the oil servingto lubricate and cool the work-piece during the subsequent forming operation in the machine.

The work-piece is then held against the fixed metal former 22 so that a portionof the work'- piecenear to that end which will eventually form the root end of the quarter bumper lies in contact with the corresponding end part 23, of slight lengthwise curvature, of the former profile, and the work-piece is clamped to the former at a point near to that endby the clamp jaw 63 which is moved towards the work-piece and former and held thereto under pressure by the clamp cylinder 6| The recess of the clamping jaw is shaped to conform to the outer surface of the preformed work-piece at the point of clamping. Since the work-piece is almost straight and the former 'profile is fairly sharply curved along its length, the two are only in contact for a short distance near the point of clamping, the remainder of the work-piece being free to move under pressure in relation to the former; the developed lengths of the former profile and the work-piece are substantially equal. It is to be noted that, for the sake of clarity, the work-piece ha been omitted from all the figures of the drawings,

At the commencement of the forming operation the swinging arm 26 occupies, the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the traversing cylinare in line with part of the work-piece and male former oily-ins. closet the clamping iaw on: the side further :from theadiaeentiend23,01 th former. The shoe is is positioned so that the ri -ht ha d and f :i comes betwe n he roll r 4;! and-the iormer 22 with theworkepiece thereon, and pre re is then appl e -by th cy inder M, th ou h th c ssiheadte and rol e l o h has of he shoe to s that the shoe is iOlGB towards the former and driven tightly on to it around the work-piece over a limited, area in front of the roller ll.

table 31 and the armilil carrying the pressure cylinder ri l, cross head it, and-roller 41 are then caused to swing slowly about the pivot pin 25 in a direction away f om the clamping jaw bypmeane 1f thetraverse cy inder 31,. ut the tahledoes not carry the shoe A8 with it. Instead, the shoe slides on the table 3|, and the roller ll on the orosseheadlld begins :totravel along-thehackof the shoe 48, and theconseguential transfer of the position of application of the pressure on the back of the shoe towards the other end thereof causes 'theshoe -to,;roll slowly along the work-piece and around the lengthwise curve of th male former, swinging angularly as it does so, but independently of the arm-2'5, so that the pressure of the shoe 4% upon the work-piece is transferredgradual-ly and progressively along the work-piece towards what will he the toe end or" the finished quarter bumper, and the metal is progressively bent round and shaped on to the ,male former 22. Owing-to the fact-that this shaping on to the former is accompanied by compression to bring the metal to take the curve of the former as viewed in plan, the quarter-bumper is formed without producing any undesirablecrinkles or distortion, and this result would be obtained even iftheflange of th bumper abo e rv whe -=ma rm r or both above andbelow were quite a deep one, and th radius of the bumper were quite sharp. The metal thickens up slightly on theinside of thecurve, but is notoverstrained in any way.

It willbe clear that when shaping the workpiece to themoresharply curved parts of the former profile, the shoe ill must swing round more rapidly than when it is shaping the less curved parts, and it is not always possible to produce the requisite motion of the shoe by means of the pressure cylinder 44 alouarartioularly wher the former 22 is sharply curved. Th aux l y 01' ho c n ro cy ind r i thereforeprovided in order, where .necessary, to ass st-the e 8 to swing. T e m untin of theoylinder 5i issuoh that it'moves towards or away from; the pivot pin ZS with the cross head (it, and itsconnection to the back of the shoe 4% bymeans of the saddle 58 and slotted arm 51 carried thereby, enables it, firstly, to press upon the back of the shoe 48 at an angle thereto and in fixed relation to the cross vhead Mi and roller 5! without preventing the sliding of the shoe upon the table 3! independentlyof the arm 26, and secondly, to be brought-into action to press upon the shoe d8 onlywhen required. The block 56 sliding in the slot of the arm 5] constitutes a lost motion connection between the piston rod 55 and the arm so that the shoe control cylinder 5! can only have an influence upon the shoe A38 when the lost mOtion has been first taken up, and this only happens if the shoe lags in its swinging motion around the former 22; when this occurs the cylinder 5! backs pth s oe 8, t r ue th s dd e- 58. a apo iou displaoedihorizonta lv from the relis -til and fin-advance thereof, that is {between the-archer and the end or the shoe toward which the roller is travelling, and so produces the ;ne c essary coui le to swing the shoe 63 at increased speed. Figures 3 and 4 of the drawingsshow the movable parts of the machine in the .relative; positions which they occupy at two different stages in the cycle of operations; Figure 3 :shows the: relative positions when the work-piece is not quite half formed, and Figure 4, the positions when the forming is almost complete.

When the forming of the quarter-bumperhas been completed, the pressure upon the hack of the shoe is released and the traversing cylinder 3? is reversed to pull the shoe off the work; the finished bumper work piece can then boremoved by withdrawing the clamping jaw, and a further work piece inserted. The shoe control cylinder 5-! is used to assist in Pulling theshoe Of,l'1l1e lZJ0Ik and also in restoring the shoe to the position (shown in Figure 1) where itis square to'the line of pressure of the pressure cylinder {24% for commencement of the next worl:ing.cyole, -the arm ZB being returned to its initial position (Figure l) by the traversing cylinder 3 5.

The pressure employed in forming the-wonkpiece isof the order of 2,000 lbs. per square inch, andthe hydraulic pressure is conveyed to the various cylinders of the machine by reinforced flexible pipes, not shown in the drawings; A constant-delivery type pump is automatically controlled to maintain the working pressure in the various hydraulic circuits. The time taken to form a quarter-bumper in the machine described is about a minute. An adjustable re lief valve isprovided in the pressure line to the swinging pressure cylinder M in order to prevent excessive ,iluid pressure in said cylinder during forming of the workpiece.

It will beunderstocd that when the shoe 5-8 is pressing a work-piece to a part of the former 22,where the distance of the former profile trom the pivot of the arm 23 is increasing, there will be increased resistance to the progress of the swinging arm as compared with when the-distance of the former profile from the pivot 25 is constant, whereas when said distance is decreasing the resistance'to swinging is decreased: these conditions. under which the resistance to swinging is increased or decreased may beregarded as analogous. to uphill or downhill movement of the shoe respectively. The constant delivery pump and the relief valveaforementioned keep the pressure exerted by the cylinder 44. substantially constant whether the movementor the shoe'is uphill or downhill, that is whether the piston rod is moving into or out of the pressure cylinder, but "downhill movement or the shoe results in a tendency of the arm 26 to swing more rapidly, and it is important that the movement of the arm and shoe should be sufficiently slow to allow the metal of the work-piece time to flow as it is shaped. Therefore, a control valve 65 is provided to throttle the outfiowof fluid from the exhaust side or the traverse cylinder 3'! so as to keep the speed of thearm 26 below a predetermined maxiznum and prevent unduly rapid folding. action upon the work-piece occurring at any point in the ycl 'Ifhe valve is carried upon the head plate i5 and has a cam follower to engage the profile of a cam 56 mounted to rotate with the pivot pin 25, and the cam profile is so related in shape 9 to the male former profile as to cause the valve 85 to throttle the traverse cylinder 31 and reduce its pull upon the arm 26 when the shoe is moving downhill around the former 22. The valve 65 and cam 86 also serve to cause the traverse cylinder to slow up and stop the movement of the swinging arm as it reaches the end of its travel, and so prevent the arm from running off the bed plate I2, and the shoe from sliding off the table 3!. A second control valve Bl mounted on a bracket upon the head plate [5, has a cam follower to engage a further cam surface upon the side of the cam 68, and the valve 61 serves to influence the operation of the shoe control cylinder Ell in accordance with the varying profile of the male former 22 as the arm 25 swings.

Instead of making a bumper from a preformed flanged work-piece it may be made from a fiat metal bar in one operation, the shoe, as it rolls around the former, folding over the edges of the work-piece to form the flanges in addition to bending and shaping it. The hydraulically operated clamping jaw can in this case, if desired, be utilised for shaping the short length of the work-piece which it engages.

We claim: V

.I1. In a metal working machine the combina-' tion of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame. a flat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, a shoe able to roll on the work-piece against the former in a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and is capable of being moved over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, fluid-pressure operated means to press the shoe, work-piece and former together, said fluid-pressure-operated means being provided with a nose to apply the pressure to the back of the shoe and being so mounted on the machine frame that the nose is capable of moving'laterally for shifting the place of contact between nose and shoe along the shoe, and means to effect said lateral movement'oi the nose to shift the place of application of pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface while the fluid pressure is maintained. I

2. In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame, a flat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, a heavy shoe able to roll on the work-piece against the former in a horizontal plane of-movement which shoes rests on the table and has a broad flat 1 bottom so that it is in stable equilibrium there on and is capable of being pushed and pulled over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, fluid-pressureoperated means to press the shoe, work-piece and former together, and which is provided witha nose to apply the pressure tothe back of the shoe which nose is shaped to make substantially line-contact with the shoe along a substantially vertical line, said fluid-pressure-operated means being so mounted on the machine frame that the nose is capable of moving laterally for shifting the line of contact between nose and shoe along the shoe, and means to effect-said lateral movement of the nose to shift the place of application of pressure to the work-piece'-progres sively along its surface while the fluid: pressure is maintained, the shoe being sufiiciently heavy 10 to keep the metal of the work-piece flowing smoothly by reason of the inertia of the shoe as it rolls thereon thereby substantially obviating distortion and the formation of undesirable crinkles in the work-piece.

3. In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a former on said frame which is convexly curved in the horizontal'direction, a flat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the'forming for shaping, a heavy shoe, straight in the horizontal direction, and able to roll on the work-piece against the former in a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and has a broad flat bottom so that it is in stable equilibrium thereon and is capable of being pushed and pulled over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, fluid-pressure-operated means to press the shoe, work-piece and former together, and which is provided with a nose to apply the pressure to the back of the shoe which nose is shaped to make substantially line-contact with the shoe along a substantially vertical line, said fiuid-pressure-operated means being so mounted on the machine frame that the nose is capable of moving laterally for shifting the line of contact between the nose and shoe along the shoe, and means to effect said lateral movement ofthe nose to shift the place of application of pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface while the fluid pressure is maintained, the shoe being sumciently heavy to keep the metal of the workpiece fiowing smoothly by reason of the inertia of the shoe as it rolls thereon thereby substantially obviating distortion and the formation of undesirable crinkles in the work-piece.

l. In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a male former on said frame which is convexly curved in the horizontal direction, a flat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, a heavy shoe constituting a female former and straight in the horizontal direction, and able to roll on the workpiece against the maleformerin a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and has a broad flat bottom so that it is in stable equilibrium thereon and is capable of being pushed and pulled over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, fluid-pressure-operated means to pressthe shoe, work-piece and male former together, and which is provided with a nose to apply the pressure to the back of the shoe which nose is shaped to make substantially line-contact with they shoe along a substantially vertical line, .said fluidpressure-operated means being so mounted on the machine frame that the nose is capable of moving laterally for shifting the line of contact be tween nose and shoe along the shoe, and means to effect said lateral movement of the nose to shift the'place of application of pressure to the workpiece progressively along its surface while the fluid pressure is maintained, the shoe being suf-. ficiently heavy to keep the metal of the work-piece flowing smoothly by reason of the inertia of the shoe as it rolls thereon thereby substantially obviating distortion and the formation of undesirable crinkles in the work-piece.

5. In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame, a fiat table mounted on the frame below theformer, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping a shoe able to roll women? on the; woi'k piece; against the formerin a: sc -i s zontal plane of movement which shoe restsonj; the table and is capable ofibeingmovedpver the; table ,linearly and angularly in any di ection inv the horizontal plane, anarmmounted; on the frame to swing about arvertical axis with its pivot of, the shoe,' fluid-pressure operated means said fluid-pressurewperated means being providedwith anosetoapply the pressure tothe back-o5 theshoe whichnose-moveslaterally as thearm swings therebyshifting the; place of contact be: tween noseand shoe along the shoe, andmeans to swing. the, armand effect said lateral move ment of the nose to, shift the plaoe of appiication v of pressure to the work-piece progressively along; its surface while the'fiuid pressure ismaintained,

6.; In a metal working machine the combination of a. machine frame,- a curved forn'ieron said; frame, meansto hold work-niece; in;placel againstthe former for-shaping, an arm mounted on the frame to swing, about a vertical axis -with its pivoton theopposite side of the former to the work-piece which arm extends from, its pivot:

across .andbeyflnd the former and work piecea, flat table. on the,- arm below the :former, a shoeable, toroll on the work-pieceagainst the former; in a: horizontal 1 plane of, movement which shoe restson the table and'is capableof being moved over the table. linearly and angularly in direction-in thehorizontal plane, fluid-pressure operated means mounted ,upon the swinging arm behind theshoe topressthe shoaiormer and work-piece together, said fluid -pressure--operated meansbeing provided with anose to apply the pressure tothe back ,of the shoe whichfinose moves ,1 tsaidllframeiameanshto mldflrworkrpiece mmlacm laterallyas the arm swings thereby shifting the placeof contact between nose. and shoe along the shoe, andjmeans to swing the arm and Vefiectsaid lateral movement of the nose to shiitthei-place ,of applicationof pressure to thework-piece progres-e sively alonglts surface while. the fluid pressure ism intained;

works-piece" which arm, extends from its. pivot across andjbeyond the former, and work-piece a;

flat tableon the arm below the former, a heavy shoe able. to roll on the work pieceagainst the former in a horizontal plane of movement which shoe restson thetable and has abroadflat bottom so that it is in stable equilibrium-thereon and is capable of being pushed and pulled over the; table linearly and angularly in,any,direction in-,; the horizontal i plane, fluid-pressure-operated; means mounted upon the swingingarmbehi11d=g theshoeto press the shoe, former and work-,-p3$e 5 ing provided with a nose to I apply-thepres ure to the back ofthe shoe which nose is shaped to make substantially line contact with the shoeralong a substantially vertical. line, the. nose moving later:- 70

together, said 'fluid-pressurefoperated mean s beally as the arm swings thereby shifting thejine of contact between nose and shoe along. the: shoe, and means to swing the arm and effect said later;

a1 movement of the nose toshift the place of anpli'cation of jpressure tothe work-piece plogljes 121 maint ined: 1e.1 h oe eln ufiioienthm heave-toe keep het lp hezwork-piece fi wingsmooth:-- 1y; ea onf th in rtia oizthesh eas itzrollsi thereon thereby; substantially obviating distortionand the formation 1 of unclesirablo'l crinkles in zthe:

work-piece.

8. In a, metal-working machine the combinav tion of, a machine frame, ,a ,curvedgformertom said, frame, means, to hold; a worlnpiece; im

,placei. against ,the former for shaping; am, arlm.

mounted-on the frameeto swing about ;a vertical: axis with its pivotton thesopppsite side: of -.the: former to the WOIk'rPj-EGQj which; a1:m;extends;; from its pivot across and ;beyondthefOIIYIEI'IaDd i former, a shoe: able to roll on; the works-pieces against the former in a horizontal plane of move: i. ment which shoe rests; on, the; table and; isicapable of being;moved;;over the table linearlyrand.

.angnlarlv; in any; direction; in the; horizontal;

plane, a, hydraulic piston-and-cylinder: unitz; mounted upon the-swine arm behind, the-zshoewv to pressthe shoe former and workqpieceitogeth-q a er, a piston rodl; extending-from; said unit; toi wardjhebacl; otthe shoe, acrosshead securecl. at the end of, the -;p,i ston-.ro dto ;slide-tolandifrol along the arm, guideways on the arm-ifor -the crossheed; a;,rol1er: mounted. on the: crosshead with its ax-is vertical to:;-app1y-,:thepressure tot tween roller and shoe-shifting, along the aback oftheshoe asthe arm swings-and means torswingi the arm to -;efi e ct snchshifting :of 1 said place 10f contact and thereby shift-:the ;place of applicae,

, tion; 0i pressure; to ;the ;-.wori -\piecemrogressivelyv against the former forshaping, anyarm. mounted ongthe frame to swing aboutaa vertical ,axis with. its; pivot ;on;the oppositesside of i the iformer; tohetw rkrpiecewh-ioh arm extends-from itspivotx acnoss andzbeyond theiformerz'andzworkepieca., 'a hat table-on the armbelow the former; acheavy;

shoe-g able to- -.roll ;on-;the workrpiecelaeainst :th'e formerzinahorizontaliplane-of movement zwhich'z, shoe rests on the table and has a'blfoad'gfiat bot-i miso that itzi in st ble q i i rium thereon; and

is capable of being pushedandmulled over the: table-.-1i ca nd i n ularl i in any ir tion :inu; he; h rizontal planet-l hydraulic piston-arm ylinde ir nit mounted upon; the-arm behind :the 1-. shoe to:.-Dress;the;;shoe,'; former; and workepiecen together,- a;,p iston-rod; extending tfromrsaidlunitx toward the back (of the-3251106,: a; crosshead'csew cured at;,the 3 end ;,of-; the ;pis.ton:'rod-.-.to slide-etc; and *fro along the 'arm; guideways on the :arm for: the crossheadga roilcrvmounted on the-.crossh ad-z. w it -a s v rtica1 ,.toc-applyi he. pre surel-zto.z the; back ot the shoe-i theplace of contact ibee ween ol erand hoes hiftingaiong wthepbackz of, the shoe -as the -arm;,swings, ,andfluid-pres sul a-operated; means -;to swing thearm to ,effect su hshif -4 11sv i sai p eceofa nta t andtheree bvshiftinsg he iplace ot pplication fmpressurea t0 .the 5 work-piece. progressively, along its sur: fa l l th ehyd a ic pr ssureiismaintainedn the shoebeing suihciently heavy, to; keep ,the,-; metalof the,-;-work,-piece -flowing smoothly; by; reason of the inertia of the shoe as-it rolls there-,- on ,thereby substantiallymbviating distortion and the;- formation: ofundesirableicrinkles; inthe;-

sively alone its surfac vv h leth fluidpressure ,is ;j; workwpiecee.

r 10.= In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, acurved former on said frame, a flat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, a shoe able to roll on the work-piece against the former in a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and is capable of being moved over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, main fluid-pressure-operated means to press the shoe,-workpiece and former together, said main fluid-pressure-operated means being provided with a nose to apply the pressure to the back of the shoe and being so mounted on the machine frame that the nose is capable of moving laterally for shift-; ing the place of contact between nose and shoev along the shoe, means to effect said lateral: movement of the nose toshift the place of ap plication of pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface whilethe fluid pressureis maintained, and auxiliary fiuid-pressure-operated means mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the shoe at a place of connection normally spaced apart along the shoe from the place of contact between nose and shoe whereby added control of the angular movements of the shoe is provided for.

11. -In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on saidframe, a fiat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, a heavy shoe able to roll on the work-piece against-the former in a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and. has'a broad flat bottom so that it is in stable equilibrium thereon and is capable of being pushed and pulled over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, main fluid-pressureoperated means to press the shoe, work-piece and former together and which is provided with a nose to apply the pressure to the back of the shoe which nose is shaped to make substantially line contact with the shoe along a substantially vertical line, said main fluid-pressureoperated means being so mounted onthe machine frame that the nose is capable of moving laterally for shifting the line of contact between shoe at a place of connection spaced apart along the shoe from the line of contact between nose and shoe, with means serving to keep said place of connection and said line of contact apart dur,-'

ing shifting of the line of contact along the shoe,

whereby added control of the angular movements of the shoe is provided for. I

12. In ametal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame, a flat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in .place against the former for shaping, a shoe able to roll on the work-piece against theformer ina horizontal plane of movement which. shoe rests on the table and is capable of being moved overthe pressure to the back of the-shoe and being so mounted on the machine frame that the nose is capable of moving laterally for shifting the,

place of contact between nose and shoe along the shoe, means to effect said lateral movement of the nose to shift the place of application of pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface while the fluid pressure is maintained a saddle mounted to slide to and fro along the shoe,-guideways on the shoe for the saddle, connecting means between the saddle and the nose such that they travel together along the shoe, and auxiliary fluid-pressure-operated means mounted on the frame and connected to the saddle at a place of connection spaced-along the shoe from the nose whereby added control of the angular movements of the shoe is provided for. I

13. In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame, a flat table mounted on the frame below the former, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, a heavy shoe able to roll on the work-piece against the former in a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and has a broad fiat bottom so,

nose is shaped to make substantially line contactwith the shoe along'a substantially vertical line,

said main fluid-pressure-operated means beingv so mounted on the machine frame that the nose is capable ofmoving laterally for shifting the line of contact between nose and shoe along the shoe,

means to effect said lateral movement of the nose to shift the place of application of pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface while the fluid pressure is maintained, the shoe being sufiiciently heavy to keep the metal of the work piece flowing smoothly by reason of the inertia of the shoe as it rolls thereon thereby substantially obviating distortion and the formation of undesirable crinkles in the work-piece, a saddle mounted to slide to and fro along the shoe, guideways on the shoe for the saddle, connecting means between the saddle and the nose such that they travel together along the shoe, and auxiliary fiuid-pressure-operated means mounted on the frame and connected to the saddle at a place of connection spaced along the shoe from the nose whereby added control of the angular movements of the shoe is provided for. I

14; In a metal workin machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, an arm mounted on the frame to swing about a vertical axis with its pivot table, linearly and-angul'arly in any direction in lateral movement of the nose to 'shift the place of; application of pressure to" the work piece pro gressively along itssurlace while: the fluid pressure is maintained, a saddle mounted to slide along the shoe, gtndeways 'on-the shoe-"for the saddle; conneotlng means between thesaddle and" l a the nose such that they'travel togetheralon the shoe, and auxiliary fiuid' pressnre-onerated means" also" mounted onthe arm behind the: shoe and" connected to the saddle by-a lost-m'otion coll-- mention at a place'sp'aoe-d along the-shoe from the" nose: whereby added oontro'l iof the-angular move mentsol the shoal -provided for.

15. In a-meta-lworking' machine the eon-mine tion or a machine frame a curved former on said frame; means to hold Flavors-piece inpl'aoeagainst the" former for shaping, an arm" mounted on the frame toswine about a vertical aX-iswlth its pivot on the oppositeside of. the "former to the woi'k'-- piece which armextendsfromits pivot across and beyond the former' and work plece; afi'at tableon" the arm below theformer, a heavy shoe able to' 'roll' on the work-piece against the formerin a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and has a broad fiat bottom so that it is in stable'equilibrium' thereon and i's o'abehind-the shoe to press the shoe, former and work pieee together said mainpi's-ton-and-cylinder unit being provided with a nose toapply the pressure to the back ofthe shoe-which nose is' shaped to make substantially line'cont'a'et with the shoealong a substantially vertical" line, the

nose moving laterally as the. arm-swings thereby shifting the line of contact between nose-and shoe along thesho'e', and meansto swing'thearmiand' efiect said lateral movement of the nose] to" shiftthe place of application of pressure to-th'e' workpiece progressively along its suri'ace while the fluid pressure is maintained, the shoe being sum-- cientl'y' heavyto keep the metal of the work-piece flowing smoothly by reason of the mertia of the shoe as it rolls thereon thereby substantially obviating distortion and the formation of undesirahlei eri'nli-les in the work-piece, a saddle mount-edto-slide alhne the shoe; guid'eways'on theshoe for the saddle,- connecting means between the saddle and the: nose such that they traveltogether along theshoe; and an auxiliary hydraulio'piston-andcylinder unit having its cylinder pivotallym'ounb ed upon the arm behind the shoe and its piston operatively connected by' alost-motion c'onhec tion-to the saddle at a place spaced alongthe" shoe from the nose whereby'added control of the angularmovenl'entsof the shoe isprovidedfor.

I6; In a metal working machine the" comtina tion' of'a' machine-frame; a curved formeron" said frame, means to hold a work-piece 'l'n place against the former for shaping, an arm mounted on the frame to swing'about a vertical axis with its pivot o'n the opposite sideof theformer to the'work -pieoeswhich arnlextends from its p'ivot acrosl arid beyond: themiormerand work piece;

1 6 a sameness theasm telow'tlie former; a shoe able-to roll: on the work-piece against the former ln -al 'hon zontal plane- 0f movement which shoe rests onthe t'ahle'and': is capable of being moved over thetatle linearly and ang'nlarly' in any'dtr'eetlon m the horizontal lane, a main hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit mounted upon the swinging-arm behind the shoe to press the shoe. formerand work-piece together;- a main pistonrod-"extending from said uni-t toward" the'haeh" ofi the shoe, a' orosshead :seoiired at we end-oi the: piston-rod to slide td'an'd f ro along the arm} giiicteway's onthe 'arni for the or'osshe'ad, atelier mounted on the erosshe'ad with itssxis vertical toap ly the pressure to the hack of the shoetheolace of contact between roller 'and shoe shtrtingr'along the shoeas the arm swings, means to sw ilig the arm-t0 effect 'sl'ioh shitting 'of said lace "of oontact andtherebyslii-f-t the pl aoeolapplication of pressure to the work-pleas er-o ressively along its sntface" while the hydraulicpressure is maintained, a-sa'ddl'er mountedto slide along the shoe; gu i 'deways on'the shoe for-the: saddle; connecting meansbetween the saddle and: the roller suehthat they" travel together along the'shoeran auxiliary hydraulic illstonsold-sirlinden Imithavingits -eylinder mounted: to slide? with the crosshead along tlilearx'n an aoxihary piston rod extending: front said 'auxiliary pistonand-cylinder? unit toward the hacker the shoe and connected to the saddlewby' means of a lost n lotion c'orme'ction at: a place sliaced' a'ldhg" the shoe from: the roller" whereby added 6Oh13l301 "0f the -angular movements of the shoe is provided 1 7". Ina: metalwonkihg"maehineithe com-binati'oniof a machine frame, a-vcurve'd form'er onKsa-ld frames means "Ito vhold 1a work-piece in; placeagainst thefermer: for: shaping, an arm mounted. om the frame to swing about a vertical axis" with its pivot on the: opposite side? of theffiormefito' the-work-pi'ece which arm extends from: its pivotacross. and beyond the? former and work-piece a flat: table: on the arm below the former, a "shoe able: to roll on; the work-'pie'ce 'againstthe" former a. horizontal) plane of movement which shoe rests on the table: and is. capable of being; movedovernthe table: linearly and: angularly many di motion in .the horizontal plane, a main hydraulic piston -andr-v-cylinder vunit mounted upon the":

swinging: arm behindthe'shoe: to presslthe shoe, former and work-piece together, :a main pistonrodzextending from said unit toward" the: back ot'the shoe: a cros'shead secured at the end of thepistoir-ro'd to: slide to and fro along the arm; guidewayson" the arm: for the; crosshead,:a. roller.

mounted-upon .a' vertical spindle on the cross'-- headz-rtdapply the pressure tothebaok of the shoe: the-place: of contact between roller and .shoeshifting; along the shoeas the arm swings;v means td-sWing; the'arm to 'Jefiect such shifting 0t said pla'ceof contaetzand therebyishittthe place of application of pressureto the Worm" headl and: the othenend beingimounted'on' guide viz-aye. onr the :arm' amauxilia-ry': hydraulie -niston and-cylinder unit having its cylinder pivotally mounted on the frame, an auxiliary piston-rod extending from said auxiliary piston-and-cylinder unit toward the back of the shoe and connected to the saddle by means of a lost motion connection at a place spaced along the shoe from the roller whereby added coritrol of the angular movements of the shoe is provided for.

18. In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame, means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, an arm mounted on the frame to swing about a vertical axis with its pivot on the opposite side of the former to the work-piece which arm extends from its pivot across and beyond the former and work-piece, a fiat table on the arm below the former, a shoe able to roll on the work-piece against the former in a horizontal plane of movement which shoe rests on the table and is capable of being moved over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, a main hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit mounted upon the swinging arm behind the shoe to press the shoe, former andwork-piece together, a main piston-rod extending from said unit toward the back of the shoe, a crosshead secured at the end of the pistonrod to slide to and fro along the arm, guideways on the arm for the crosshead, a roller mounted upon a vertical spindle on the crosshead to apply the pressure to the back of the shoe the place of contact between roller and shoe shifting along the shoe as the arm swings, means to swing the arm to effect such shifting of said place of contact and thereby shift the place of application of pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface while the hydraulic pressure is maintained, a saddle mounted to slide along the shoe and guideways on the shoe for the saddle, the spindle for the roller on-the crosshead being journalled in said saddle so that the saddle is thereby pivotally connected to the roller to travel with it along the shoe, a substantially horizontal longitudinally-slotted arm upon the saddle extending rearwardly from a position at the back of, and spaced along, the shoe from the roller, a pivot block adapted to slide along the slot in said slottd arm, a frame carried on the side of the swinging arm and capable of sliding along it with the crosshead, one end of said frame being secured to the crosshead and the other end being mounted on guideways on the swinging arm, an auxiliary hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit having its cylinder pivotally mounted on the frame, and an auxiliary piston-rod extending from said auxiliary piston-and-cylinder unit toward the back of the shoe and pivotally connected to the pivot block on the saddle arm whereby added control of the angular movements of the shoe is provided for.

19. In a metal working machine the combination of a machine frame, a curved former on said frame, fluid-operated clamping means to hold a work-piece in place against the former for shaping, an arm mounted on the frame to swing about a vertical axis with its pivot on the opposite side of the former to the work-piece which arm extends from its pivot across and beyond the former and work-piece, a flat table on the arm below the former, a heavy shoe able to roll on the workpiece against the former in a horizontal plane of movement Which shoe rests on the table and has a broad flat bottom so that it is in stable equilibrium thereon and is capable of being pushed and pulled over the table linearly and angularly in any direction in the horizontal plane, a main piston-and-cylinder unit mounted upon the swinging arm behind the shoe to press the shoe, former and work-piece together, a main piston-rod extending from said unit toward the back of the shoe, a crosshead secured at the end of the piston-rod to slide to and fro along the arm, guideways on the arm for the crosshead, a roller mounted upon a vertical spindle on the crosshead to apply the pressure to the back of the shoe the place of contact between roller and shoe shifting along the shoe as the arm swings, fluidpressure-operated means to swing the arm to effect such shifting of said place of contact and thereby shift the place of application of pressure to the work-piece progressively along its surface while the hydraulic pressure is maintained, the shoe being sufficiently heavy to keep the metal of the work-piece flowing smoothly by reason of the inertia of the shoe as it rolls thereon thereby substantially obviating distortion and the formation of undesirable crinkles in the work-piece, a saddle mounted to slide along the shoe and guideways on the shoe for the saddle, the spindle for the roller on the crosshead being journalled in said saddle so that the saddle is thereby pivotally connected to the roller to travel with it along the shoe, a substantially horizontal longitudinallyslotted arm upon the saddle extending rearwardly from a position at the back of, and spaced along, the shoe from the roller, a pivot block adapted to slide along the slot in said slotted arm, a frame carried on the side of the swinging arm and capable of sliding along it with the crosshead, one end of said frame being secured to the crosshead and the other end being mounted on guideways on the swinging arm, an auxiliary hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit having its cylinder pivotally mounted on the frame, and an auxiliary piston-rod extending from said auxiliary pistonand-cylinder unit toward the'back of the shoe and pivotally connected to the pivot block on the saddle arm whereby added control of the angular movements of the shoe is provided for.

ALBERT MAURICE REDMAN. ARTHUR FREDERICK FROST.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,016,416 Kashian Feb. 6, 1912 1,016,771 Plante Feb. 6, 1912 1,424,366 McArdle Aug. 1, 1922 2,091,749 Christman Aug. 31, 1937 2,350,379 Weightman June 6, 1944 2,357,873 Bower Sept. 12, 1944 2,444,718 Bath July 6, 1948 2,482,617 Green Sept. 20, 1949 2,528,072 Mueller Oct. 31, 1950 2,514,830 Bath July 11, 1950 

